Denzel Washington’s ‘The Equalizer’ Gets a Release Date

Those hoping that Denzel Washington would make a return to more serious, challenging roles will have to wait a little longer. He's set to star in 'The Equalizer,' an adaptation of a semi-forgotten '80s television series, a role that will surely allow him to stare quietly at bad guys before pounding the stuffing out of them (which has become something of his acting modus operandi these days). In typical Hollywood fashion, the film doesn't have a director yet, but it officially has a release date.

'The Equalizer' is set to hit theaters on April 11, 2014, which gives all of you Denzel fans about about 18 months to clear your schedules and buy your tickets. Since the show is by no means iconic (has anyone under thirty even heard of it?), expect this to be marketed as just another Denzel Washington action fest, not the resurrection of a beloved property.

Like so many shows from the '70s and '80s, the premise of 'The Equalizer' is built to sustain weekly adventures, so it'll be interesting to see how it gets modified for a two hour running time. The show followed a retired secret agent who attempted to atone for his past by helping strangers with their problems through the classified ads ("Got a problem? Odds against you? Call the Equalizer.")...a premise that sounds awfully familiar to 'The A-Team,' a far more recognizable '80s property that bombed when it hit the big screen. Can Washington's star power keep 'The Equalizer' from a similar fate? If his recent box office grosses are any indication, then yes. Very much yes.